Endorsements you are asked to consider

Sunday

Sep 9, 2012 at 3:15 AM

On Tuesday, New Hampshire primary voters will make some of the most important decisions offered them in many years. With Gov. John Lynch having decided to hang it up after four terms, the governor's seat is up for grabs. In addition, the political winds indicate a fierce contest is in the offing for control of the Legislature.

With Tuesday's primary in mind, the editorial board here at Foster's Sunday Citizen has offered endorsements in three races we believe critical to the region and the state. Below are recaps of those endorsements.

Ovide Lamontagne

In the primary race for governor, Ovide Lamontagne is the best voice to represent Republicans on Nov. 6.

Lamontagne's background, experience and statesmanlike approach have earned him the opportunity to be his party's standard-bearer.

As we wrote earlier, "We will not dwell on Lamontagne's personal and professional resume. It is too lengthy and can easily be found on the web. Suffice it to say voters will find his curriculum vitae most bountiful — from clerking for Judge James Emmett Barrett of the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit to chairman of the New Hampshire state Board of Education."

But what impresses us most about Lamontagne is the political maturity he brings to the race. Having narrowly lost to now U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte in the 2010 GOP primary, Lamontagne refused to seek a recount. Instead, he gracefully ceded way.

After watching Lamontagne come of age since the 1990s, we believe he deserves consideration for the state's highest office.

We also like his attitude when discussing the office of governor.

"I'll be a leader in the legislative process and I'll be proactive," Lamontagne told our editorial board. "I will not be sitting in the governor's office saying, 'Here comes a bill, and I don't know what's in it.'

Jackie Cilley

Jackie Cilley is our candidate of choice in the Democratic primary race for governor.

We admire Cilley for her straight-forward approach. There is little doubt the businesswoman and former state senator can make her case well up against the Republican nominee.

One of Cilley's strengths is her ability to use the bully pulpit, an essential quality given New Hampshire's weak gubernatorial form of government — hemmed in by a legislature and an executive council.

Beyond these qualities, Cilley's refusal to take the pledge against a sales or income tax stands the best chance of spurring debate in the general election.

Cilley also has the best chance of speaking to the problems confronting the state, as seen through a Democratic prism.

Among these is the need to invest in schools, roads, bridges, and communication infrastructure, as well as the safety and health of our communities.

As noted previously, "For some, these might seem like all-encompassing platitudes — a politician pandering to the masses. But that is not the Cilley we know."

Dick Green

While there are many House and Senate primary contests Foster's Sunday Citizen could have chosen, the one we have focused our attention on has been the GOP primary race in Senate District 6 — encompassing the communities of Rochester, Farmington, New Durham, Alton, Barnstead and Gilmanton.

Green's background offers such a depth of experience that it would be a political sin not move him forward to the general election.

The Lilac City resident has served in numerous elective offices, including Rochester mayor and previously in the State Senate. But even more enticing was his time as executive director of the Pease Redevelopment Authority — an uncontested success on behalf of the entire region after Pease Air Force Base was shuttered.

Critics argue, however, that Green is not deserving because he supported Democratic Gov. John Lynch over his Republican opponent John Stephen.

Foster's Sunday Citizen would argue that in this case putting the good of the state over his party was the right thing to do. And that primary voters should be looking to conviction and accomplishments, not simply blind party loyalty, when they vote on Sept. 11.

In the end, we believe that Green has walked enough of the GOP walk and talked the GOP talk to be his party's nominee come Tuesday.

For more on the primary elections, go www.fosters.com and click on Campaign 2012 Coverage.

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